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RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR MAYOR�S DESIGNEE AND THE FINANCIAL RECOVERY BOARD FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST TO PLACE A SIGN IN THE WOMEN�S RESTROOMS IN ALL MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST FACILITIES PROVIDING CONTACT INFORMATION FOR AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN WHO ARE BATTERED, RAPED, VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, OR OTHERWISE PHYSICALLY ABUSED; DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR MAYOR�S DESIGNEE AND THE FINANCIAL RECOVERY BOARD FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE ON THE SIGNS: �DON�T SUFFER IN SILENCE ANYMORE�; AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR MAYOR�S DESIGNEE AND THE FINANCIAL RECOVERY BOARD FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST TO POST THE SIGNS IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND HAITIAN CREOLE AND TO UPDATE THE INFORMATION ON THE SIGNS AS UPDATES BECOME NECESSARY

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WHEREAS, domestic violence is defined as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, women experience about 4.8 million intimate partner-related physical assaults and rapes every year; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, less than 20 percent of battered women sought medical treatment following an injury; and
WHEREAS, according to the United States Department of Justice�s National Crime Victimization Survey, which includes crimes that were�not reported to the police, 232,960 women in the United States were raped or sexually assaulted in 2006; and
WHEREAS, according to the 2003 United States Department of Justice�s National Crime Victimization Survey, 9 of every 10�rape victims were female; and
WHEREAS, according to a 1998 survey completed by the National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 1 out of every 6 American women�has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime; and
WHEREAS, according to the same survey, 17.7 million American women�have been victims of an attempted or completed rape; and
WHEREAS, according to the World Health Organization, victims of sexual assault are three (3) times�more likely to suffer from depression; six (6) times�more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder; thirteen (13) times�more likely to abuse alcohol; twenty-six (26) times�more likely to abuse drugs; and four (4) times�more likely to contemplate suicide; and
WHEREAS, 54% of rapes and sexual assaults�are not reported to the police according to a statistical average of the 2006 through 2010 United States Department of Justice�s National Crime Victimization Surveys; and
WHEREAS, human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery in which victims are used for forced labor or sexual exploitation; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of State estimates that about between 600,000 to 800,000 people, mostly women and children, are trafficked across national borders annually; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of State estimates that between 17,500 to 20,000 victims are trafficked into the United States annually; and
WHEREAS, Florida is commonly known amongst law enforcement personnel to have one of the highest incidences of human trafficking in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Florida is commonly cited, along with New York and California, as being one of the top three destinations for trafficking victims in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Miami International Airport is ranked as one of the top entry points in this country for foreign human trafficking victims; and
WHEREAS, women who are victims of domestic violence, rape, and/or human trafficking are less likely to seek help; and
WHEREAS, placing signs that list the telephone numbers of domestic violence, rape, and human trafficking assistance hotlines in the women�s restrooms in all facilities owned or operated by Miami-Dade County and the Public Health Trust might encourage women who need assistance, but who are too embarrassed or afraid to call for help, to do so from the privacy of the restroom, while away from their aggressor, or at the very least, encourages these women to make a note of the telephone numbers; and
WHEREAS, the Office of Community Advocacy, the agency within Miami-Dade County tasked with advocating for women in this community, has expressed its support for the installation of signs listing the contact information for agencies that provide assistance to women who are battered, raped, victims of human trafficking, or otherwise physically abused, in the women�s restrooms in all County and Public Health Trust facilities,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
Section 1. This Board directs the Mayor or Mayor�s designee to place a permanent sign providing the following information in the public women�s restrooms in all facilities owned or operated by Miami-Dade County:
A. Safespace Shelter - Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Shelter (305)758- 2546;
B. The Lodge - Domestic Violence, Rape and Sexual Assault Shelter (305)693-1170;
C. Switchboard of Miami - Crisis and Suicide Prevention Hotline (305)358-4357;
D. Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center - Rape and Sexual Assault Hotline (305)585-7273;
E. Miami-Dade County Coordinated Victims Assistance Center (CVAC) (305)285-5900;
F. Kristi House - Sex Trafficking Hotline 1-877-465-3916;
G. Florida Freedom Partnership - Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888.
Section 2. The Mayor or Mayor�s designee is further directed to include the following language on the signs: �Don�t Suffer in Silence Anymore.�
Section 3. The Mayor or Mayor�s designee is further directed to post the signs in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole and to update the information provided on the signs as updates become necessary.
Section 4. The Mayor or Mayor�s designee is further directed to design the signs in accordance with this resolution and to install said signs within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this resolution. The Mayor or Mayor�s designee is further directed to apprise this Board of the completion of the sign installation.
Section 5. This Board directs the Financial Recovery Board for the Public Health Trust to place a permanent sign providing the following information in the public women�s restrooms in all facilities owned or operated by the Public Health Trust:
A. Safespace Shelter - Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Shelter (305)758- 2546;
B. The Lodge - Domestic Violence, Rape and Sexual Assault Shelter (305)693-1170;
C. Switchboard of Miami - Crisis and Suicide Prevention Hotline (305)358-4357;
D. Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center - Rape and Sexual Assault Hotline (305)585-7273;
E. Miami-Dade County Coordinated Victims Assistance Center (CVAC) (305)285-5900;
F. Kristi House - Sex Trafficking Hotline 1-877-465-3916;
G. Florida Freedom Partnership - Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888.
Section 6. The Financial Recovery Board for the Public Health Trust is further directed to include the following language on the signs: �Don�t Suffer in Silence Anymore.�
Section 7. The Financial Recovery Board for the Public Health Trust is further directed to post the signs in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole and to update the information provided on the signs as updates become necessary.
Section 8. The Financial Recovery Board for the Public Health Trust is further directed to design the signs in accordance with this resolution and to install said signs within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this resolution. The Financial Recovery Board for the Public Health Trust is further directed to apprise this Board of the completion of the sign installation.